SPRAY TANNING PREPARATION & AFTERCARE 🤎 HOW TO KEEP YOUR GLOW LOOKING BEAUTIFUL (Including your little Spray Tan check list at the end)

L A G O L D • L U X U R Y  C U S T O M  S P R A Y  T A N N I N G

You’ve booked your spray tan and want your glow to look beautiful for as long as possible?

Then I’ve got a few little tips for you – because with just a little preparation, you can really help your spray tan look its best. 🤎

Don’t worry, you don’t need to plan a whole beauty marathon. A few simple things are all it takes to help your tan develop evenly and fade beautifully later on.

So, let’s get started! 

BEFORE YOUR SPRAY TAN

First things first: Moisture!

Your skin loves moisture – and so does your spray tan.

Ideally, start a few days before your appointment by moisturizing your skin regularly and drinking plenty of water.

Especially your knees, elbows, hands and feet will appreciate a little extra love.

But: On the day of your spray tan, your skin should be completely free of products.

So today, your skin gets to go completely “naked”. 😉

24–48 HOURS BEFORE: EXFOLIATION TIME

A good exfoliation is the perfect preparation for your spray tan.

Old skin cells and product residue get to go – leaving you with a nice, even surface for your new glow.

My tip:

Simply use an exfoliating mitt and water in the shower.

You don’t need an additional scrub or any oil.

And don’t just quickly run the mitt over your legs. 😄

Give a little extra attention to:

Knees

Elbows

Hands

Feet

Underarm area

Ideally, exfoliate after washing your hair.

One important thing:

Please don’t exfoliate on the actual day of your spray tan.

Your skin needs a little time to settle afterward.

SHAVING & WAXING

If you’d like to shave, it’s best to do it at least 24 hours before your spray tan.

Your skin and pores need a little time to calm down afterward.

So coming straight from shaving to your spray tan isn’t the best idea – your skin might not be very happy about it. 😉

For waxing, give yourself a little more time and ideally have it done at least 48 hours beforehand.

And after your spray tan:

Please wait at least 24 hours before shaving again.

OTHER BEAUTY APPOINTMENTS

Have a lash, brow, facial, massage or lymphatic drainage appointment coming up?

Perfect – just don’t schedule it right before your spray tan.

Ideally, leave around 48 hours in between.

That way, your skin has time to relax and your spray tan won’t interfere with your other treatment.

A little exception: Manicure & Pedicure

If you’re having a manicure or pedicure on the same day as your spray tan, please avoid using cream and disinfectant if possible.

ON THE DAY OF YOUR SPRAY TAN

Now things get really easy.

On this day, your skin basically wants just one thing:

To be clean and completely product-free.

Showering

Ideally, shower around 4 hours before your appointment.

Don’t shower too hot and avoid products that leave a film on your skin.

So:

No body oil

No rich creams

No lotion

No heavily fragranced shower products

Avoid soap if possible

Need to shower shortly before your appointment?

No problem.

If that’s the only option, simply take a short, cool-to-lukewarm shower without any products.

PURE SKIN – LESS IS MORE

Just come to your appointment with clean, dry skin.

That means:

No lotion

No cream

No body oil

No deodorant

No perfume

No makeup

You should also avoid sunscreen before your appointment.

Today, your skin gets to be completely product-free. 😄

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

After your spray tan:

The looser, the better.

Ideal choices are:

Dark clothing

Soft, comfortable fabrics

As few seams as possible

No tight cuffs

Your loosest pair of pants – sweatpants are perfect

Sandals or flip-flops

The looser the pants, the happier your fresh spray tan will be. 😉

Better leave these at home:

Jeans

Leggings

Tight socks

Tight cuffs

Jewelry

Fitness trackers

If you’re comfortable doing so, it’s also best to come without a bra, so you don’t get pressure marks.

And please avoid sleeveless tops, dresses or skirts.

And if the weather decides to do its usual thing…

Bring an umbrella!

Water is about as welcome immediately after your spray tan as a snowman in summer. 😄

AFTER YOUR SPRAY TAN

Now it’s time to:

Do nothing and let your tan develop.

The bronzer you see immediately after your spray tan is initially the cosmetic layer.

Your actual tan develops afterward – and it needs a little time and peace to do its thing.

UNTIL YOUR FIRST SHOWER

Keep your skin dry

No exercise

Avoid heavy sweating

No sauna

No swimming

Avoid rain

Minimize friction

Avoid applying anything to your skin

Avoid skin-to-skin contact as much as possible

Keep wearing your loose, dark clothing.

And yes – your sweatpants can make another appearance at bedtime. 😉

YOUR FIRST SHOWER

I’ll let you know exactly when you can shower after your spray tan, as the development time depends on the solution used and your individual treatment.

When it’s time:

Use cool to lukewarm water.

No shower gel, no body care products – just water.

Gently rinse off the cosmetic bronzer until the water runs clear.

Then:

Pat dry – don’t rub.

And don’t panic!

The bronzer you saw immediately after your spray tan will partly wash off.

Your tan is not gone. 🤎

It will continue developing over the next few hours.

AND THEN? MOISTURE, MOISTURE, MOISTURE!

Now comes the most important part for keeping your glow looking beautiful:

Moisture!

The better hydrated your skin is, the longer your spray tan can stay beautiful and even.

My tips:

🤎Drink plenty of water

🤎Moisturize morning and evening

🤎Keep showers short and lukewarm

🤎Gently pat your skin dry after showering

🤎Use gentle, sulfate-free skincare

At LA Gold, I also offer a specially developed Hydration Gel for spray tanning, which can be applied directly after your first shower and won’t interrupt the tanning process.

🤎 WHAT DOESN’T YOUR SPRAY TAN LIKE?

There are a few things that can make your tan fade a little faster.

These include:

Very hot, long baths

Sauna

Lots of chlorinated water

Heavy sweating

Rough washcloths

Loofahs

Frequent exfoliation

Strong AHA/BHA products

Retinoids

Very drying products

Heavily fragranced products

Products containing a lot of alcohol

Sulfates

Mineral oil, petrolatum, Vaseline or Paraffinum Liquidum

But don’t worry – you don’t need to turn your entire bathroom upside down and inspect every bottle. 

If you’re unsure whether a product is suitable for your spray tan, just ask me.

HOW LONG DOES A SPRAY TAN LAST?

With good preparation and proper aftercare, you can usually enjoy your glow for around 7–10 days.

Of course, it varies from person to person.

Exercise, frequent showers, swimming, sauna and dry skin can cause your tan to fade a little faster.

And when your glow slowly starts to fade?

That’s completely normal.

A beautiful spray tan should fade evenly and naturally – not suddenly disappear.

🤎 YOUR LITTLE SPRAY TAN CHECKLIST

48 HOURS BEFORE

☐ Waxing

☐ Lashes / brows

☐ Facial

☐ Massage / lymphatic drainage

24–48 HOURS BEFORE

☐ Exfoliate with an exfoliating mitt

☐ Don’t forget knees, elbows, hands & feet

☐ Moisturize dry areas

☐ Shave, if desired

☐ Ideally exfoliate after washing your hair

Please don’t use oil when exfoliating.

ON THE DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT

☐ Shower around 4 hours before your appointment

☐ Cool to lukewarm water

☐ No cream

☐ No lotion

☐ No oil

☐ No deodorant

☐ No perfume

☐ No makeup

FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

☐ Dark, loose clothing

☐ Loose sweatpants

☐ Sandals or flip-flops

☐ Ideally no bra

☐ No jewelry

☐ No fitness tracker

☐ If it’s raining: bring an umbrella 

AFTER YOUR SPRAY TAN

☐ Keep your skin dry

☐ Don’t sweat

☐ No exercise

☐ No swimming

☐ No sauna

☐ Avoid friction

☐ Don’t apply anything to your skin

DURING YOUR FIRST SHOWER

☐ Wait for the recommended development time

☐ Cool to lukewarm water

☐ Water only

☐ No shower gel

☐ Don’t rub

☐ Gently pat dry

IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS

☐ Moisturize morning & evening

☐ Drink plenty of water

☐ Use gentle skincare

☐ Keep showers short and lukewarm

☐ Pat dry after showering

☐ No rough washcloths

☐ Don’t exfoliate

☐ Avoid sauna & chlorinated water whenever possible

MY PRO TIP

You really don’t need to create a perfect beauty schedule for your spray tan.

If you remember to exfoliate, shave in good time and keep your skin moisturized, and then give your tan a little time to develop, you’ve already done a lot right.

After that, it’s basically:

Moisturize, drink water and enjoy the glow. 🤎

I can’t wait to see you!

XOXO

Bettina